What the F Society: Dissecting Mr. Robot Season 3, Episodes 4 and 5

This week, it's a Mr. Robot double feature for us. We react to eps3.3metadata.par2 and eps3.4_runtime-err0r.r00.

We missed recapping last week, so this chat is a Mr. Robot double feature.

Though eps3.4_runtime-err0r.r00 was hailed as "groundbreaking" due to its faux one-take cinematic showmanship, there was not a lot of plot development. It was more like a setup for what we know is coming this week: the carrying out of Stage 2.

Elliot evaded E Corp's HR firing squad to try to stop the Dark Army from blowing up the building housing the paper backups and Angela did her best (we think, though Irving didn't sound so convinced in their phone call) to make sure it went forward.

Though the Philip Glass score and the buzzes and clicks of Elliot's own internal runtime error filled the episode with anxiety, the truly heart-stopping moment came at the end, when Elliot confronts a distressed and mascara-streaked Angela.

His two most important relationships are being tested: Angela has aligned with his own alternate personality and the Dark Army; and Darlene made an FBI deal for the two of them without his knowledge.

The moment when Darlene tells Elliot is all the more heartbreaking because the week before in eps3.3metadata.par2 their bond was renewed when they promised to avenge each other's deaths. That's how things go after 5/9.

Later on, Darlene also has a heart-to-heart with Dom, though it seems more like she's working her social-engineering skills than really opening up. Hidden agendas are really the theme here, with Angela drugging Elliot to get to Mr. Robot and Irving trying to convince Tyrell that he can carry out Stage 2 on his own if it comes down to that.

The characters welcome in this recap are Chandra Steele, Victoria Song, Matthew Buzzi, Eric Griffith, and Tom Brant. There are cameos from Jim Fisher and Rob Marvin. If you need a refresher, check out our chats about Episode 1,Episode 2, and Episode 3.

Steele [3:12 PM]

Time traveling back to a week ago

[3:12]

(Thanks to Whiterose for sponsoring)

[3:12]

We find ourselves in Darlene's FBI-funded flat

Song [3:12 PM]

Things Happened

Steele [3:13 PM]

^

Song [3:13 PM]

Things Were Seen :eyes:

Buzzi [3:13 PM]

Elliot very suspicious, Darlene trying to defuse and not blow FBI's cover

[3:13]

They do get some brother sister bonding in

Steele [3:13 PM]

Which broke my heart

[3:13]

Because we know too much

Song [3:14 PM]

If you travel like, back back back to that brady bunch 6-person split screen where they said "one of these characters will die

Buzzi [3:14 PM]

She agrees to follow Mr Robot when he inevitably takes control and goes to meet Angela to continue planning phase 2

Song [3:14 PM]

I think the obvious choice is Darlene. So I'm kinda hoping it's not Darlene.

Buzzi [3:14 PM]

Yeaaa unfortunately

[3:14]

Seems that way

Steele [3:14 PM]

I really hope she does not die

[3:14]

But I feel like it is her

Buzzi [3:15 PM]

Why do we all feel so strongly it is?

[3:15]

They're making her more sympathetic, she came clean to Elliot

Steele [3:15 PM]

They gave her nearly an entire episode

Song [3:15 PM]

and here's the real plot twist, re: me

[3:15]

I kinda want it to be Angela

[3:15]

…………..

Buzzi [3:16 PM]

Used to be Team Angela, many moons ago....

Steele [3:16 PM]

I do want her to face come consequences

Song [3:16 PM]

I'm still Team Angela

Steele [3:16 PM]

She drugged Elliot!

Song [3:16 PM]

I just think it would be Tragic

[3:16]

and kind of out of left field but not

[3:16]

and it would Fuck. Elliot. Up.

Steele [3:16 PM]

Here is where I put in my small Angela theory: she is also her mother

[3:16]

I think that some of her behavior is explained by that

[3:16]

And it parallels Elliot

Song [3:17 PM]

i think she's also doing a "hurt him to save him" thing

Steele [3:17 PM]

Who I believe doesn't just have Mr. Robot as some split personality but as some actual part of his father embedded in him

[3:17]

Well I do think Angela getting him fired from E Corp was partly for his benefit

[3:18]

And if we're moving this discussion along to this past week's episode, I think her executing that mission

[3:18]

Might get her um executed

[3:18]

WHAT WAS IN THAT BAG?

[3:18]

It was not bbq

Song [3:18 PM]

Fries

Buzzi [3:18 PM]

Yeah--the episode before that there wasn't much to say--Elliot came out of Mr Robot mid-meeting with Tyell and Angela, saw them, got drugged. It really was mostly prologue to the newest one

[3:18]

And some Darlene characterization

Song [3:19 PM]

if Chandra is right about parallel universes, I gotta wonder if death in this timeline is even meaningful.

[3:19]

things are gonna be "set right"

Steele [3:19 PM]

I do think Darlene was using some social engineering on Dom

[3:19]

If Angela has bought into that theory then it explains why she is pretty OK with being so ruthless

[3:20]

She's responsible for at least two deaths at this point

Song [3:20 PM]

at this point I've kinda absorbed the parallel universe theory

[3:20]

because if you do, a lot of Angela's motives make sense

Buzzi [3:20 PM]

She's still very shaken by it, can't tell if she's still going through with it because of the timelines or she really thinks it's for the "greater good" (edited)

Griffith [3:20 PM]

Darlene even started blabing about killing someone. that won't end well.

Steele [3:20 PM]

Or she's in it for the fries

Fisher [3:21 PM]

I just landed and loaded slack. Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but the opening scene on the elevator, very homage-y to Scully's elevator adventure in the long-shot X-Files "Triangle" ep. Now I need to deplane.

Buzzi [3:21 PM]

It makes more sense, and they gave us those "what if you can undo it" quotes and that weird tour very early in the season

Steele [3:21 PM]

Jim is dedicated

Buzzi [3:21 PM]

The most swoop-in-swoop-out Fisher comment possible

Griffith [3:21 PM]

Jim will be back when he's in the cab riding home.

Steele [3:22 PM]

I know this episode was supposed to be groundbreaking but I did not love it

[3:22]

It did make me really want to see this coming week's episode though

Song [3:22 PM]

It felt like a long action sequence

Griffith [3:22 PM]

meh, tracking shots aren't all that big a deal now. Cameras are small.

Buzzi [3:22 PM]

I liked it a decent amount, it was pretty tense

Steele [3:22 PM]

When she was looking for that USB drive forever

Song [3:22 PM]

once again, Angela doing the thing that needs doing.

Steele [3:22 PM]

I was yelling the key is in your hand your hand is in your pocket I thought you read Lolita

Griffith [3:22 PM]

i like the episode a LOT because it was real time and uninterrupted. the tracking felt more like a gimmick.

Brant [3:23 PM]

I extremely disliked the maze shots

[3:23]

where they were peeking over the wall

Song [3:23 PM]

it did feel a little disjointed with the Elliot bit first and then the Angela Mission sequence

Buzzi [3:23 PM]

they definitely would've spent a lot less time on every part of the plot normally if they weren't going out of their way to do the tracking episode

Griffith [3:23 PM]

there was one shot I loved, obviously a special effect, where they went right through a glass door to elliot on the other side.

Buzzi [3:23 PM]

could've had a lot more plot, but as usual with the show, it was still shot and MADE well

Steele [3:24 PM]

Some of the shots were great, but the plot I had issues with

Brant [3:24 PM]

Elevators are a metaphor for something

Steele [3:24 PM]

Would they really have written all those instructions out for Elliot?

Griffith [3:24 PM]

elevators are for exposition about the Congo

Song [3:24 PM]

Chandra i don't think so

Steele [3:24 PM]

Me neither

Griffith [3:24 PM]

Elliot needs no instruction. they were testing Angela

Song [3:24 PM]

So either they knew Angela would do it and it's a test

[3:24]

haaa

Buzzi [3:24 PM]

I was wondering that, like he would've needed that

Steele [3:24 PM]

And Whiterose knows everything but not that Elliot got fired?

Brant [3:24 PM]

Oh right so they don't know if Eliot's been fired

Song [3:25 PM]

yeah Eric it probably was testing angela

[3:25]

and how far she was willing to go

Griffith [3:25 PM]

Angela passes the test, she gets to sit at the right hand of White Rose in heaven.

Song [3:25 PM]

and if she could handle it

Buzzi [3:25 PM]

The continuous shot also necessitated a lot of convenient escapes and prop usage for Angela (and to a lesser extent Elliot) because they have to show us everything

Steele [3:25 PM]

And if she can do whatever she has to do with WHAT IS IN THE BAG

[3:25]

I am not letting that go

Song [3:25 PM]

gun?

Steele [3:25 PM]

I think it is that

Griffith [3:25 PM]

putting on a mask full of pepper spray: bad ass.

Steele [3:25 PM]

Or maybe something from her mother to prove that they can get to some other dimension

Buzzi [3:26 PM]

maybe!

[3:26]

a memento of proof

Brant [3:26 PM]

I feel like introducing another dimension at this point would be too left field

Song [3:26 PM]

Betrayed Elliot though. I wonder what he's gonna do.

[3:26]

Angela and Darlene, both close to his heart.

Griffith [3:26 PM]

they can leave the thing in the bag a mystery to reveal the second dimension in season 5.

Song [3:26 PM]

I don't think we've really seen angry Elliot before.

Steele [3:26 PM]

I think Elliot would forgive Angela before he forgives Darlene

Song [3:26 PM]

Would he?

Steele [3:26 PM]

Even though Darlene is trying to protect him

Buzzi [3:27 PM]

Also seeing him lie and think on his feet as not Mr Robot was fun

Brant [3:27 PM]

Yeah. He was blumbering a lot

[3:27]

Mr Robot would know that elderly ladies know all about IT

Song [3:27 PM]

I like the touch of actual anxiety coping mechanisms that they put in there during that sequence.

[3:27]

The breathing, the slowing things down.

Steele [3:27 PM]

And how they generated anxiety with those sounds

Griffith [3:28 PM]

he'll forgive Darlene if he forgets she's his sister. and he wants to make out.

Song [3:28 PM]

Elliot has limited spoons people.

Steele [3:28 PM]

Omg Eric

Buzzi [3:28 PM]

That's a good debate, who he'd be more forgiving to

[3:28]

In a sense Angela was still being loyal to HIS plot, yanno?

Steele [3:29 PM]

And she got him a deal with the FBI

[3:29]

He just didn't know it

[3:29]

Turn in crazy Tyrell already

Song [3:29 PM]

I think generally, when you feel betrayed, it's directly proportional to how close you feel to someone.

Brant [3:29 PM]

But if we are right about Darlene getting knocked off it won't matter...

Song [3:29 PM]

Elliot and Angela's relationship has always been weirdly close, whereas his relationship with Darlene has been on and off

[3:29]

like he forgot Darlene.

Steele [3:29 PM]

We don't know why it was off

[3:30]

Something about that window incident is at the center of it

Griffith [3:30 PM]

he did forget Darlene! kissy kissy with sissy! Bad.

Song [3:30 PM]

The sting of betrayal from Angela, I think is gonna be….dude got all the way back up to the 41st floor.

[3:30]

and said "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Buzzi [3:30 PM]

True

Song [3:30 PM]

IN ALL RELATIONSHIPS WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THAT TO YOU IT IS GONNA END BAD

I don't know what he could have done...unless he just realized what happened

Buzzi [3:32 PM]

oh wow

Song [3:32 PM]

yeah that's on floor 23

[3:33]

he somehow figured it out and went to floor 41?

Steele [3:33 PM]

I think he might have gone there and somehow realized what Angela did

Buzzi [3:33 PM]

that's where her office is, so I guess he was seeking her out after what Darlene said

Steele [3:33 PM]

Then went to her office to find her

Buzzi [3:33 PM]

ya

Song [3:33 PM]

dang, elliot can run fast

Buzzi [3:33 PM]

:dash:

Song [3:33 PM]

that's like 18 flights of stairs, up

Steele [3:33 PM]

Also what snag did the Dark Army's plan hit in the first place?

Song [3:33 PM]

cuz we know he didn't elevator that up

Steele [3:33 PM]

Irving never says

Griffith [3:33 PM]

he let's Mr. Robot dod the running

Buzzi [3:34 PM]

Oh yeah I forgot he said that. But it might've just been a lie to get Angela doing the job/test

Griffith [3:34 PM]

where did they film this show? did they take over an actual building? is it all sets?

Steele [3:34 PM]

Or Irving just said that because they needed stage 2 to happen on the day of the Congo vote

Griffith [3:34 PM]

and how about that one shot where the camera goes OUTSIDE and looks down on the crowd.

Brant [3:34 PM]

^the one i didn't like

Griffith [3:34 PM]

some interesting special FX hidden throughout

Steele [3:35 PM]

That building is a real building but I think a lot of the interior shots except the lobby are Silvercup studio sets

Song [3:35 PM]

Well Tom likes Salads so his opinion is immediately discredited.

Brant [3:35 PM]

Some shots were fine, others were too artsy

Griffith [3:35 PM]

Esmail loves his artsy.

[3:35]

i wonder if this show is all practice for the movie he'll make in a few years.

Song [3:35 PM]

His cool palettes and off-centered shots

Steele [3:36 PM]

He did make a movie called Comet

Griffith [3:36 PM]

wtf is Comet? never even heard of it.

slackbot Custom Response [3:36 PM]

Why you mad bro?

Buzzi [3:36 PM]

oh my god kill this new slackbot

Song [3:36 PM]

shhhh slackbot. shhhhh.

Steele [3:36 PM]

It is about parallel universes

[3:36]

I'm going to deprogram this new Slackbot

Song [3:36 PM]

also no one says bro slackbot. it's bruh now.

Brant [3:36 PM]

All those artsy from-above shots would support the alternate dimension/parallel universe theory

[3:36]

a not subtle hint to the viewer

Steele [3:36 PM]

Well let's consider who programmed this Slackbot

Griffith [3:36 PM]

I hope this whole thing crosses over with Fringe.

Song [3:37 PM]

FRINGE!

Brant [3:37 PM]

that a film profesor would frown upn

Song [3:37 PM]

Where Dom is Olivia Dunham.

Griffith [3:37 PM]

Walter Bishop teams with Mr. Robot!

Song [3:37 PM]

Omg. That dialogue would be bonkers.

[3:38]

Walter: I like gooey banana bread.

Elliot: Are you seeing this friend? Or is the banana bread a metaphor for the fact that we are all disparate pieces of reality, smushed together by emulsified egg batter?

Buzzi [3:38 PM]

{hasn't watched a single episode of Fringe] yeah totally

Song [3:38 PM]

And then they're joined by Mr. Clark, the overly helpful science teacher from Stranger Things who explains reality is like a human tight rope walking and fleas walking upside down.

Steele [3:38 PM]

Just letting Victoria writer her fanfic

[3:38]

I have watched one episode of Fringe

[3:39]

I could say I have watched more but I do not want to Samar this thing

Song [3:39 PM]

Spoiler: Mr. Robot ends with the Mindflayer becoming CEO of E-Corp.

Buzzi [3:39 PM]

Accidentally dunking on Samar out loud was :100:

Marvin [3:39 PM]

Fringe is ace. Sorry I got caught up and forgot this chat had started

Buzzi [3:39 PM]

I was about to @ you since you are the one who requested 3

Griffith [3:40 PM]

Go watch all of Fringe now to understand true alternate dimension shows.

Steele [3:40 PM]

Is that shade?

Song [3:40 PM]

Fringe's first episode is garbage.

[3:40]

But the rest of the series is delightful.

Buzzi [3:40 PM]

just wait til this is all confirmed and it will be a "real" alternate dimension show

Song [3:40 PM]

You forget Joshua Jackson was ever Pacey in Dawson's Creek

Steele [3:41 PM]

But what would Joshua Jackson give to forget that?

[3:41]

Would he join the Dark Army?

Song [3:41 PM]

Griffith [3:41 PM]

Agreed, Fringe thought it was X Files at the start. Thankfully it didn't last.

Brant [3:41 PM]

As someone who spends most of his time eating salads and not watching TV, I am unfamiliar with all of this

Song [3:41 PM]

That's an A+ self dunk Tom

Griffith [3:41 PM]

Trivia: Joshua Jackson was ALMOST Anakin Skywalker.

[3:41]

imagine that world.

Steele [3:41 PM]

Better to get ahead of it, Tom

Brant [3:42 PM]

HOWEVER, this also means I am extra sensitive to alternate dimensions

[3:42]

and i just don't think there is one here

Song [3:42 PM]

That's a lot of parallel dimensions.

Buzzi [3:42 PM]

A lot of the plot COULD be explained without one

[3:42]

I just cant get past Angela's quote and that tour

[3:42]

It was so blatant

Steele [3:42 PM]

She believes it

[3:42]

It might not be true

Song [3:42 PM]

And Whiterose's fixation with clocks.

Buzzi [3:42 PM]

It's definitely baked into the plot

Steele [3:43 PM]

But she is onboard with it

Song [3:43 PM]

I don't know tonally, how it would play if it does or doesn't happen.

[3:43]

It's not like LOST where you know from episode 1 that freaky deaky shit is happening with a smoke monster.

Steele [3:43 PM]

Sam Esmail plans about two more seasons of this thing

[3:43]

So I don't know where it would go if that was introduced at this point

[3:43]

OH

Buzzi [3:43 PM]

Tour guide was more or less like, "time travel, huh? Speaking of, this facility"

Song [3:43 PM]

Is anyone gonna survive 2 more seasons?

Steele [3:43 PM]

Where are Trenton and Mobley?!

Buzzi [3:44 PM]

:skull:

Song [3:44 PM]

^in another dimension?

Steele [3:44 PM]

Will whatever Trenton does derail Stage 2?

Brant [3:44 PM]

Get on with it then!

Griffith [3:44 PM]

he's already got the scene planned where Angela finds out its all in her head.

Steele [3:44 PM]

I think that somehow Trenton prevents Stage 2

[3:44]

Elliot has been freaking out this whole time

[3:44]

But she has evaded Joey Bada$$

[3:44]

And saved things

Buzzi [3:44 PM]

I'd be surprised if we see them again personally

[3:44]

Or at least, Im not counting on it

Song [3:45 PM]

Darlene did mention them this week.

Griffith [3:45 PM]

I think they've got other TV shows. Trenton definitely is in something else.

Steele [3:45 PM]

She's on a lot of other things

Song [3:45 PM]

buh buh buh.

Steele [3:45 PM]

I am on their IMDB pages now

[3:45]

So far nothing for this season

Song [3:45 PM]

Scheduling :sparkles:

[3:45]

peopel can be on multiple things in various capacities

[3:46]

lord knows Game of Thrones brought back Gendry after 4 seasons of rowing.

Buzzi [3:46 PM]

If they were still out there waiting to return to the plot, they could've sent them off to their new jobs and not showed them any more for a while. Instead, they specifically showed the Joey Bada$$ scene, which could've easily been closure for them (edited)

[3:46]

That had some finality to it

Steele [3:46 PM]

I think we'll see them again

Brant [3:46 PM]

So what does the annexation of the Congo mean?

Buzzi [3:46 PM]

Not sure what they'd even do or how at this point

Brant [3:47 PM]

for stage 2?

Steele [3:47 PM]

I think they needed the Congo for raw materials

Griffith [3:47 PM]

I think we'll see them... at season 5, coming out of a breach from Earth 3.

About the Author

Chandra is senior features writer at PCMag.com. She got her tech journalism start at CMP/United Business Media, beginning at Electronic Buyers' News, then making her way over to TechWeb and VARBusiness.com. Chandra's happy to make a living writing, something she didn't think she could do and why she chose to major in political science at Barnard College. For her tech tweets, it's ChanSteele.